PHILADELPHIA — Late within the third quarter of Game 3, all of James Harden’s struggles got here into focus.
As the shot clock was winding down, the 76ers guard tried to seek out house to take a shot, however Jaylen Brown closed down all of his potential avenues. Harden in the end took a tricky fadeaway jumper that Brown contested nicely. When it missed, Brown leaked out for an outlet move and took all of it the way in which to the basket and drew a foul on Harden as he accomplished a three-point play.
Harden crashed to the ground on his again because the Celtics took an eight-point lead. The sequence exemplified how every part has gone unsuitable for Harden and the Sixers. After he scored 45 factors to will Philadelphia in its Game 1 victory, Harden has turn out to be a whole non-factor during the last two video games with Joel Embiid again, and the largest purpose why the SIxers have faltered.
Harden scored 12 factors on 2-for-14 taking pictures – together with 0-for-6 from deep – in Game 2 and adopted that up with a 3-for-14 effort with 5 turnovers in Game 3. Though he completed with 11 assists, he appeared hesitant as he handed up appears to be like he would usually take. His struggles had been so noticeable that it drew the ire and boos of 76ers followers at Wells Fargo Center.
“I got to watch the game, but I’m pretty good on basketball instincts, I know when to score and I know when to pass,” Harden mentioned throughout a brief media session after Game 3. “So I’m pretty sure a lot of them was the right play.”
Harden had a one-word reply when requested if the Celtics did something to influence him.
“Nope,” he mentioned.
But Boston has actually made a extra concerted effort to lock down Harden since his Game 1 efficiency. And it’s been Brown who has led the cost. In Games 2 and three, the 76ers gained each opening suggestions. In each situations, Brown has picked up Harden full-court instantly. It’s illustrated how a lot focus the Celtics have placed on Harden. They let him get too snug in Game 1, and so they haven’t since.
“I don’t know, just having pressure, intensity,” mentioned Brown, who wished and requested for the Harden project. “Just popping out and enjoying. He’s an important participant and simply making an attempt to make it robust on him. That’s it. …
“Just doing my job, playing defense, having fun and we just got to keep doing it and get ready for the next game.”
If the Celtics can frustrate and shut Harden down once more in Sunday’s Game 4, they need to be heading house with a 3-1 sequence lead. They know the recipe that works.
“We’re just trying to make him work,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “He’s obviously a great player and can score at all three levels. And so we’re just trying to make him work as much as we can, trying to keep him off the free throw line. So guys are just working to take away those details.”
Quick dentist journey
For the final three years, Grant Williams’ dad and mom have been complaining to him about not carrying a mouthpiece. He wore one in faculty and through his rookie season with the Celtics however then ditched it.
“Let’s just say last night didn’t help,” Williams mentioned Saturday.
There’s an excellent – or painful – purpose why, after the 280-pound Embiid inadvertently stomped on the again of Williams’ head throughout a scary collision late in Game 3 that might have been worse. Williams face-planted on the hardwood, leaving him bloodied with a swollen nostril. He obtained three stitches on his mouth after the sport with the assistance of the 76ers’ staff dentist, who drove him 20 minutes to his workplace, the place he obtained the stitches and obtained fitted for a mouthpiece.
“I was thankful for him offering and he did a phenomenal job,” Williams mentioned.
Williams mentioned he didn’t must take a concussion take a look at from the stomp, and all issues thought-about, he mentioned he was comfortable that he was comparatively unscathed from the incident.
Williams mentioned he had a number of folks attain out to him, together with his household, his pal and actor Mark Wahlberg, and his former Tennessee teammates who made enjoyable of him.
“It was a cool little bring everybody together,” Williams mentioned. “I was fine, just move on and get ready to play the next game.”
Rob avoids a scare
Robert Williams is nice to go for Sunday’s Game 4 after a quick scare within the fourth quarter on Friday, when he suffered a proper forearm contusion after diving out of bounds for a free ball. He acquired therapy on the bench earlier than heading to the locker room and in the end didn’t return, however wasn’t listed on the harm report. He was carrying a sleeve on his proper arm throughout Saturday’s walkthrough.
“Feeling good,” he mentioned. “Little sore but I’m feeling good.”
Smart questionable
Marcus Smart, who’s suffered his share of accidents already this postseason, is questionable for Game 4 on account of a left ankle sprain. Blake Griffin, who was out for Game 3, can be questionable due to low again ache. …
After Friday’s win, Mazzulla mentioned he expects a battle in Game 4. He is aware of the Celtics will doubtless get a fair higher shot from the 76ers as they combat to keep away from a 3-1 sequence gap.
“I expect them to play better,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I expect them to play hard, I expect them to punch, I expect them to come out aggressive. So we have to dictate that, we have to manage that, and we just have to execute.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com